The Duke and the Hookers

February 15, 2007

By JUSTIN ROOD REPORTS:

Before he was caught and sent to jail, former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham was entertained by prostitutes hired by a defense contractor, according to a new federal indictment against a man he has accused of bribing him with gifts of money, meals and favors.

On Aug. 15 and 16, 2003, Cunningham was in the company of prostitutes in his private quarters of the Hapuna Suite at Hawaii's Hapuna Beach Prince hotel, the document states.

Cunningham had traveled to Hawaii with Brent Wilkes, owner of ADCS Inc., which flourished by receiving millions of dollars worth of government contracts, thanks to Cunningham's interventions. Cunningham has pleaded guilty and is now serving time in prison. He described a co-conspirator, whom prosecutors identified as Wilkes, as one of his key bribers in his plea agreement.

Around 5 p.m. on the 15th, Wilkes told one of his employees on the trip to hire two prostitutes for the evening, according to the document, filed today. He gave the employee $600 to pay for two hours' work from each prostitute, according to the indictment.

Six hours later, two prostitutes arrived accompanied by their "driver," the indictment states. The indictment places quotation marks around "driver." The employee escorted the two prostitutes up to the Hapuna Suite, the document says.

Fifteen minutes later, Wilkes and Cunningham each escorted a prostitute to separate rooms; less than an hour later, Wilkes gave one of the prostitutes a $500 "tip" for the "services," according to the indictment.

The next night, Wilkes arranged to have that prostitute return but asked for a different prostitute to come and accompany Cunningham, the indictment states. The switch was at Cunningham's request, the prosecutors write.

Again, the indictment alleges Wilkes arranged for his employee to pay the prostitutes' "driver" $600. Again, Wilkes tipped the prostitute he was with $500 for the services, prosecutors say.

Though Wilkes' alleged involvement in the Cunningham scandal has been reported for over two years, this is the first time he has been indicted in connection to the fiasco.

The indictment appears to have been written carefully so as not to disclose the names, gender or other identifying characteristics of the prostitutes. Wilkes is scheduled to be arraigned at 9:30 a.m tomorrow.